SCHUYLKILL COUNTY — There is new information about a head-on crash in Northumberland County that killed two members of a Schuylkill County family.
As authorities look into what caused the wreck, we’ve learned it’s the same family that lost four relatives in a tragic fire last year.
“This is the eighth funeral I have had in the past year.”
Carrie Marie Matejick is bravely facing overwhelming heartbreak. Her husband Ronald died in a car crash Monday afternoon near Mount Carmel His relative Charles Carl, 92, was also killed. Ronald Matejick was 76.
“He went along with them yesterday because my uncle had a hard time getting in and out of the car with a wheel chair,” said Carrie Marie Matejick.
“He would do anything for anybody; they could call him right through the night or anything else.”
The family was just starting to rebuild after another tragedy: in March of 2012, four family members, three of them children, perished in a house fire in Shenandoah.
The survivor, great grandson Diego, was being raised by Ronald and Carrie Marie.
“He joined the Cub Scouts since then, his grades improved, he’s doing very good in school, and I am still keeping him here.”
Monday’s crash is still under investigation. The two men died during a trip to Geisinger Medical Center for a doctor’s appointment.
Investigators say they were in an SUV that was hit by a pickup that was swerving all over the road.
Police requested a search warrant for the pickup truck driver’s medical records to see if alcohol was a factor.
On the streets of Gordon every person we met knew the victims.
“It’s very disheartening because I know them very well, the people,” said Victor Mickatavage. “He would do anything for you, he was a good egg.”
The two men were at the heart of the community. Ronald worked part time at the borough hall, Carl lived in the house just a few yards away
Carl’s third cousin Jacqueline lives just a few doors down the same street.
“He was nice, they were very nice people, it’s sad. Our prayers go out to the family,” said Jacqueline Stitzer.
Now the community both men loved will have to help those they left behind.
